Today's news summary, Aug. 28, 2013

NEWS: The City of Poughkeepsie today sold two of its parking garages at public auction. The garage adjoining the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel sold for $1.4 million to Joseph Bonura Sr., co-owner of the hotel. The city also sold its parking garage at 88 Cannon St. A high bid of $155,000 was made by the Redeemed Christian Fellowship Church of God of Prophecy on Cannon Street.

Sixteen schools across the state will participate in a program pairing private businesses with public schools and colleges, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today. The Pathways in Technology Early College High School Program, known as P-TECH, extends schooling for students through grade 14, with graduates receiving both a high school diploma and an associate's degree at no extra cost. Schools will be established in the Hudson Valley, as well as western and central New York and the North Country. The Hudson Valley Council of Industry is partnering with Ulster Community College, Dutchess Community College, Orange Community College, Sullivan Community College and SUNY New Paltz. About $4 million was included in the state budget to expand the program. The schools will be open to about 6,000 students and will be located in each region of the state, according to Cuomo's office.

A military jury sentenced Maj. Nidal Hasan to death today for the 2009 shooting rampage at Fort Hood, giving the Army psychiatrist what he believed would be a path to martyrdom in the attack on unarmed fellow soldiers. The American-born Muslim, who has said he acted to protect Islamic insurgents abroad from American aggression, never denied being the gunman. In opening statements, he acknowledged to the jury that he pulled the trigger in a crowded waiting room where troops were getting final medical checkups before deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan. The same jurors who convicted Hasan last week had just two options: either agree unanimously that Hasan should die or watch the 42-year-old get an automatic sentence of life in prison with no chance of parole. Hasan had no visible reaction when the verdict was read Wednesday. Hasan could become the first American soldier executed in more than half a century. But because the military justice system requires a lengthy appeals process, years or even decades could pass before he is put to death.

SPORTS: The Hudson Valley Renegades close out their three-game seriestonight against the Connecticut Tigers in Norwich, Conn. The Renegades beat the Tigers 7-4 Tuesday. They open a two-game series in Aberdeen on Thursday.

COMING THURSDAY: It's been nearly 40 years since Laura Hinckley's teenage sister Sheryl Ann Tillinghast was last seen in the area of the Wassaic State School in the Town of Amenia, but, still, Hinckley, 48, continues her search for answers. To this day, Tillinghast hasn't called family, hasn't written and, more grisly, there's been no sign she's still alive, state police said. Theories swirl around Tillinghast's disappearance on or around Sept. 24, 1973. Hinckley, along with other family members, said she suspects foul play.

Players, features two of the region's top distance runners in Conni Grace and Connie Seigh.

And, Thursday's editorial says the U.S. and other countries must respond to Syria. But, a military strike is not the only option. Negotiations toward peace should be brought to the fore along with economic sanctions.

WEATHER: Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected until midnight followed in the early morning by patchy fog and a low of about 65, the National Weather Service says. Tomorrow, partly sunny skies with scattered showers and thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon and a high near 83.

To read the complete versions of these stories, click "Top News" in the navigation of your tablet site, iPhone or Android app or the Journal's mobile site, m.poughkeepsiejournal.com. You can also visit www.PoughkeepsieJournal.com.

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Today's news summary, Aug. 28, 2013

Two City of Poughkeepsie parking garages have changed hands following today's public auction; a new education programming partnering schools, colleges and businesses is expanding to the Hudson Valley.